On the morning of Oct 14th, 2022, Mary McCullagh passed away peacefully at her residence in VT, in the presence and comfort of her daughter. She was 84 years old.
Born in Scotland, at age 18 she immigrated to the United States along with her parents Michael and Bridget Doherty, and her two younger siblings, John and Josephine. Mary’s love and devotion to her family was always her main priority. She greatly enjoyed being a student at Brooklyn College, but left her studies early, out of the necessity to care for her parents.
She married her husband Michael McCullagh in 1963, and a few years later they moved to Nelsonville NY, where they raised their family alongside her parents who lived in an apartment within their home. She spent many years working at Butterfield Library. She was also employed at Haldane Central School as the High School Secretary, and a Special Education Teachers Aide who cared deeply about the students she worked with, always encouraging and celebrating their achievements.
Mary was a high-spirited person with an endless array of interests and talents. She loved learning about different cultures, spoke French and Latin, and had a passion for history, astronomy, art, theatre, and music. She was an especially big fan of the Beatles, Elton John, and the beautiful lyrics and melody of John Lennon’s “Imagine” which spoke to her own heartfelt desire for world peace, human rights, and equality. She loved animals, the beauty of flowers, tending to her garden, and later in life became especially enchanted by genealogy, spending countless hours excitedly researching and learning about her ancestors, and making and maintaining connections with family.
She is survived by her loving children Patricia McCullagh PsyD of Arlington VT, Michael McCullagh and his wife Moriah of Colchester VT, cherished granddaughters, Maeve, Kaitlyn, and Keira McCullagh, dear sister Josephine Doherty (James), nephew Thomas Doherty (Barb), and niece Kathleen Roberts (Eric). She is also survived by sister in-law Barbara Doherty (John), niece Deirdre DeMascio (Danny), and nephew Michael Doherty (Andrea). In Scotland, she is survived by Mary Yacoob (Sully), Anne Maxwell, and several other cousins.
She was predeceased by her loving, devoted husband and soul mate, Michael G. McCullagh, her brother John Doherty, and brother- in-law James Doherty.
Visitation will be held on Friday November 11, 2022 from 4-7pm at Clinton Funeral Home, 21 Parrott St, Cold Spring, NY 10516. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday November 12, 2022 at 10:00am at Our Lady of Loretto Church, 24 Fair Street, Cold Spring. Interment will follow in Cold Spring Cemetery
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Best Friends Animal Society at bestfriends.org
Friday, November 11, 2022
4:00 - 7:00 pm (Eastern time)
Clinton Funeral Home
Saturday, November 12, 2022
10:00 - 11:00 am (Eastern time)
Our Lady of Loretto Church
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